JP2006191367A - Image reading device - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an image reading device, an image reading method and a program for making it unnecessary to individually operate any color correction to all frames even when there is any machine difference between image reading devices. <P>SOLUTION: This image reading device for reading color image data is provided with a basic picture quality adjusting means for performing picture quality adjustment of all read images with the same parameter and a frame-categorized picture quality adjusting means for performing picture quality adjustment of each of the read images with different parameters. Then, adjustment is performed by the frame-categorized picture quality adjusting means for the result of adjustment of the basic picture quality adjusting means. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to an image reading apparatus, an image reading method, and a program for reading an image.

  As apparatuses for obtaining an image as digital data, there are a reflective original scanner for reading a reflective original and a film scanner for reading an image on a film.

  The configuration of the film scanner will be described with reference to FIG.

  FIG. 1 shows a block diagram of the scanner. Reference numeral 101 denotes a light source that irradiates the film 102. Reference numeral 102 denotes a film such as a positive color film or a color negative film. Reference numeral 103 denotes an imaging lens. Reference numeral 104 denotes a CCD, and an image on the film 102 is formed on the CCD by the lens 103. The CCD is a three-color line sensor CCD, and an RGB color separation filter is attached to each, and the image on the film is color-separated and output as an analog signal. Reference numeral 105 denotes an A / D converter that converts an analog signal into a digital signal. RGB is output as 10-bit data. Reference numeral 106 denotes a data bus through which image data and other data flow. Reference numeral 107 denotes an image storage unit which stores A / D converted image data. Reference numeral 107 denotes a buffer memory unit used in the middle of processing and an image memory unit for storing the results of completion of all processing. A color table storage unit 108 stores a table for each type of film. The table is a one-dimensional LUT (look-up table) for each RGB. That is, there are three LUTs per film. Fig. 6 shows an example of a LUT for negative film. By using this table, conversion from 10-bit negative data to 8-bit positive data is performed. Taking a color negative film as an example, each film type has a different color balance and gradation characteristics, so it is usually necessary to prepare a LUT for each type of film. An image data converter 109 converts image data using the one-dimensional LUT stored in 108. As a result, the negative image is converted into a positive image with a well-balanced color and becomes RGB, 8-bit data for each color. The image data processed in 109 is written in the image storage unit 107. An image display unit 110 displays an image on an image display device such as a CRT so that the image can be visually confirmed. An image quality adjustment unit 111 can adjust image quality such as contrast and RGB color balance while viewing an image displayed on the image display unit 110. An image quality adjustment parameter storage unit 112 stores parameters determined by the image quality adjustment unit 111. Reference numeral 113 denotes an LUT generation unit that generates a new LUT from the parameters obtained by the image quality adjustment unit 111. The image data conversion unit 109 converts the image stored in the image storage unit 107 using this LUT.

  Next, a conventional scan sequence will be described.

<Step S1>
The user loads the film into the scanner.

<Step S2>
The scanner automatically determines the film type from the bar code recorded on the film.

<Step S3>
A color table (Look Up Table (LUT)) corresponding to the film type is automatically set in the scanner. Alternatively, the user sets the LUT by specifying an arbitrary film type.

<Step S4>
A pre-scan for obtaining a low-resolution image for confirmation is performed.

  The prescan image is displayed on an image display unit 110 such as a CRT.

<Step S5>
The user selects an image from the pre-scan images, opens an image quality adjustment dialog for adjusting image quality, and performs image quality adjustment.

<Step S6>
The LUT generation unit 113 generates a fine scan LUT from the image quality adjustment parameters.

<Step S7>
The LUT generated in step S6 is set in the image data converter 109, and fine scan is performed. As a result, an image having undergone image quality adjustment is obtained.

As another conventional example, for example, Patent Document 1 and Patent Document 2 can be cited.
JP 07-143262 A JP-A-11-98369

  In the above-described conventional example, for example, when red is strong in the color balance of the scanner being used due to scanner differences, red of all images becomes strong as a result of pre-scanning. In addition, due to automatic color correction, color deviation may occur as a whole. In addition, some users may want to easily match the color balance and brightness target values to their own preferences and the characteristics of the output device. As described above, conventionally, when the colors of all images are biased in the same direction as a result of pre-scanning, it has been necessary to perform color correction on all the frames, which requires a lot of work. .

  An object of the present invention is to provide an image reading apparatus, an image reading method, and a program that do not require individual color correction operations for all the frames even if there is a difference in the image reading apparatuses. There is.

  The present invention provides a basic image quality adjusting means for adjusting image quality with the same parameters for all read images in an image reading apparatus that reads color image data, and performs image quality adjustment with different parameters for each read image. An image quality adjusting unit for each frame is provided.

  The basic image quality adjusting means of the present invention is characterized by adjusting a machine difference for each image reading apparatus.

  The basic image quality adjusting means of the present invention is characterized by reflecting the preference of the operator.

  The basic image quality adjusting means and the frame-by-frame image quality adjusting means of the present invention are characterized by having one or a plurality of adjustment functions.

  One or a plurality of parameters set by the basic image quality adjusting means of the present invention can be stored as a set, and a plurality of sets can be stored.

  The present invention is characterized in that one set is called out from a plurality of sets of parameters stored in the basic image quality adjusting means of the present invention and applied as parameters of the basic image quality adjusting means.

  The present invention provides a basic image quality adjusting means for adjusting image quality with the same parameters for all read images in an image reading apparatus that reads color image data, and performs image quality adjustment with different parameters for each read image. It is characterized by comprising image quality adjusting means for each frame for performing, and parameter combining means for combining parameters for basic image quality adjustment and parameters for frame-by-frame adjustment.

  As described above, according to the present invention, by adjusting the basic image quality, it is possible to correct the difference in scanner body and the overall image quality bias. In addition, target values for color balance and brightness can be easily adjusted to your preferences and the characteristics of the output device. In addition, by adjusting the image quality for each frame after performing the basic image quality adjustment, it has become possible to adjust variations such as color and brightness contrast for each shooting scene. As a result, in the past, when there were machine differences, all the frames after pre-scan had to be adjusted one by one. As a result, the work efficiency has been greatly improved. Also, the operator's preference for the entire scanned image can be reflected. Also, when adjusting image quality by frame, it is already after the machine difference and overall image quality bias has been corrected, so the amount of adjustment for each frame can be reduced, so that adjustment can be performed easily and accurately. It was.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

(First embodiment)
FIG. 2 is a flowchart for explaining the flow of processing in the film scanner as the image reading apparatus according to the first embodiment of the present invention. Hereinafter, description will be made according to the flow of processing. In this embodiment, a negative film will be described.

<Step S1>
The user loads a negative film into the scanner. On the negative film, barcodes are recorded in advance on the upper and lower sides of the film so that the film type can be specified. In addition to the image reading sensor, the scanner is provided with a sensor for reading the barcode, and the barcode can be obtained. The scanner stores in advance a correspondence table of barcodes and film types, and the film types can be specified from the barcodes.

<Step S2>
A display is made so that the user can know what the determined film type is. FIG. 3 shows a display example in a GUI (graphical user interface) in the case of the present embodiment. If the detected barcode is in the correspondence table, the corresponding film type name is displayed. If it is not in the correspondence table, “Standard” is displayed. In this case, a standard table is set later, and pre-scan and scan are performed. This GUI also has a film type selection function. When the fill ▽ mark of 301 is clicked, a list box is opened in the downward direction, and all registered film types are displayed. The user can select an arbitrary film type from the list.

<Step S3>
FIG. 4 shows a block diagram of the scanner of the present invention. Since the configuration is substantially the same as that in FIG. A color table corresponding to the film type selected in step S2 is set in the scanner. Specifically, the color table storage unit 408 stores a color table for each film type. The color table is a one-dimensional LUT for each color of RGB. A color table corresponding to the film type selected in step S2 is set in the image data conversion unit 409.

<Step S4>
A pre-scan for acquiring a confirmation image is performed. The image data conversion unit 409 converts the image from negative to positive using the color table set, and stores the image in the image storage unit 407.

<Step S5>
The prescan image is displayed on an image display unit 410 such as a CRT.

<Step S6>
When there is a machine difference in the scanner, the color balance of all frames in the pre-scan image is shifted in the same direction. For example, all the frames are reddish images. Also, some users may want to match the color balance and brightness target values to their preferences and output device characteristics.

  In such a case, the user selects an arbitrary image from the pre-scan images and opens an image quality adjustment dialog for performing basic image quality adjustment.

<Step S7>
FIG. 5 shows an image quality adjustment dialog. Select the radio button for selecting the basic image quality adjustment. The selected image is displayed in the original image display window. By manipulating the image selection slider bar, an original image can be arbitrarily selected from a plurality of pre-scan images. By operating the R, G, B slider bar, the color balance of R, G, B can be adjusted. By operating the brightness, contrast, and sharpness slider bars, the brightness, contrast, and sharpness can be adjusted. It is also possible to reflect the operator's preference regarding the image quality for the entire scanned image. The result of the image quality adjustment is displayed in the corrected image display window. When the adjustment is complete, click [OK] to close the dialog. When the [Save] button is clicked after the adjustment is completed, a dialog for saving parameters is displayed. The parameters set in this dialog can be saved as a set with any file name. Also, by clicking the [Read] button, a parameter reading dialog is displayed, and a list of file names of already saved parameter sets is displayed. The user can call one of them. The called result is immediately set to each slider, and the result is reflected in the corrected image window.

<Step S8>
The image quality adjustment parameters set in this dialog are reflected on all the pre-scan images and displayed on the image display unit 410 such as a monitor. As a result, the machine difference of the scanner is corrected.

<Step S9>
By adjusting the basic image quality, scanner differences and variations in film development conditions are corrected, but variations in color and brightness contrast from scene to scene remain. Specifically, in the case of a negative film, if a red car is photographed with a full angle of view, the entire screen often becomes a strong cyan image, which is a complementary color of red, due to automatic correction. In addition, when a person is photographed under backlight conditions without using a strobe, the brightness of the face portion is not appropriate and becomes dark. Further, when the exposure at the time of shooting is not appropriate depending on the scene, the contrast may be too strong or weak. In such a case, the user selects an arbitrary image from the pre-scan images, and opens an image quality adjustment dialog in order to perform image quality adjustment for each frame.

<Step S10>
FIG. 5 shows the image quality adjustment dialog for each frame. This dialog is the same as the basic image quality adjustment dialog, and the user selects a radio button for selecting image quality adjustment for each frame. In the original image display window, an image resulting from the basic image quality adjustment is displayed. That is, the image quality adjustment for each frame is performed on the result of the basic image quality adjustment. The functions that can be adjusted are the same as those for the basic image quality adjustment, and thus description thereof is omitted. When adjustment is complete, select the [OK] button to close the dialog.

<Step S11>
The image quality adjustment parameters set in this dialog are reflected on all the pre-scan images and displayed on the image display unit 410 such as a monitor. As a result, in addition to correction for scanner differences, frame-by-frame correction is performed.

<Step S12>
When the adjustment for all the frames to be adjusted is completed, a fine scan for obtaining a high resolution image is performed. In the fine scan, the parameter for basic image quality adjustment and the parameter for image quality adjustment for each frame are combined in the parameter combining unit 413 and processed in the image quality data converting unit 409. That is, with respect to one image, basic image quality adjustment and frame-by-frame image quality adjustment are simultaneously performed by a single process. As a result, processing is performed at a higher speed than when processing is performed separately. As a result, the basic image quality adjustment is performed for all the images, and the result of the basic image quality adjustment and the frame-by-frame adjustment for the designated frame is obtained.

  Note that the present invention may be applied to a system constituted by a plurality of devices (for example, a computer, an interface device, and a scanner) or may be applied to a single device having these functions.

  The present invention may also be applied to driver software that operates on a computer connected to a scanner.

  In addition, the present invention supplies a storage medium (or recording medium) in which a program code of software that realizes the functions of the above-described embodiments is recorded to a system or apparatus, and a computer (or CPU or MPU) of the system or apparatus. Needless to say, this can also be achieved by reading and executing the program code stored in the storage medium. In this case, the program code itself read from the storage medium realizes the functions of the above-described embodiments, and the storage medium storing the program code constitutes the present invention. Further, by executing the program code read by the computer, not only the functions of the above-described embodiments are realized, but also an operating system (OS) running on the computer based on the instruction of the program code. It goes without saying that a case where the function of the above-described embodiment is realized by performing part or all of the actual processing and the processing is included.

  Furthermore, after the program code read from the storage medium is written into a memory provided in a function expansion card inserted into the computer or a function expansion unit connected to the computer, the function is determined based on the instruction of the program code. It goes without saying that the CPU or the like provided in the expansion card or the function expansion unit performs part or all of the actual processing and the functions of the above-described embodiments are realized by the processing.

  In this embodiment, an example of a negative film is shown, but it goes without saying that the same effect can be obtained when a positive film or a reflection original is scanned.

It is a block diagram which shows the structure of the conventional film scanner. It is a flowchart in the scan of the film scanner as an image reading apparatus which concerns on 1st Embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows GUI of the film type display and selection part in the film scanner as an image reading apparatus which concerns on 1st Embodiment of this invention. It is a block diagram which shows the structure of the film scanner as an image reading apparatus which concerns on 1st Embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows an image quality adjustment dialog. It is a figure which shows the example of LUT for negative films.

Explanation of symbols

401 Light source 402 Film 403 Lens group 404 CCD
405 A / D converter 406 Data bus 407 Image storage unit 408 Color table storage unit 409 Image data conversion unit 410 Image display unit 411 Image quality adjustment unit 412 Basic image quality adjustment parameter storage unit 413 Parameter composition unit 414 Frame-by-frame image quality adjustment parameter storage unit 415 LUT generator

Claims (7)

  In an image reading apparatus that reads color image data, basic image quality adjusting means for adjusting image quality with the same parameters for all read images, and a frame for adjusting image quality with different parameters for each read image There is another image quality adjusting means, and the result adjusted by the basic image quality adjusting means is adjusted by the frame-by-frame image quality adjusting means.   The image reading apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the basic image quality adjusting unit adjusts a machine difference for each image reading apparatus.   The image reading apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the basic image quality adjusting unit reflects an operator's preference.   2. The image reading apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the basic image quality adjusting means and the frame-by-frame image quality adjusting means have one or a plurality of adjustment functions.   2. The image reading apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a plurality of sets of one or a plurality of parameters set by the basic image quality adjusting means can be stored as one set.   6. The image reading apparatus according to claim 5, wherein one set is called out from a plurality of sets of parameters stored in the basic image quality adjusting means and applied as parameters of the basic image quality adjusting means.   In an image reading apparatus that reads color image data, basic image quality adjusting means for adjusting image quality with the same parameters for all read images, and a frame for adjusting image quality with different parameters for each read image Separate image quality adjusting means, parameter combining means for combining basic image quality adjustment parameters and frame-by-frame adjustment parameters, and for pre-scan images for obtaining low-resolution images for image confirmation, basic image quality adjusting means For the fine scan image for obtaining a high-resolution image, the parameters adjusted by the parameter synthesis means are processed using the image quality adjustment means for each frame. Features.

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